The Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce and its business members in Niles are sponsoring the annual fireworks display for the 26th consecutive year Sunday.

Chamber President Ron Sather and his staff have been busy for the last few months making plans for the nation’s 235th birthday.

The fireworks display will begin at dust at the Four Flags Apple Festival Fairgrounds at the corner of 17th and Lake streets.

Some of the surrounding communities have had to cancel their fireworks due to the economy, and as a result, Sather said, he expects a record crowd of more than 6,000 people to attend this year’s show.

More than 160 Chamber businesses and 45 volunteers are participating in the display. The Chamber of Commerce had to raise $11,000 to fund the fireworks and give the attendees something to look forward to next year. The event is free to all, but donations will be accepted. There will be vendors selling food and drinks throughout the evening.

Firework displays and other festivities will be taking place all weekend throughout southwest Michigan and northern Indiana:

• Baroda: Sunday at dusk there will be a Fourth of July celebration at the Baroda American Legion Field; Round Barn Winery’s Distillery Reds, Whites and Blues, Saturday and Sunday, 10983 Hills Rd., Baroda. Wine tasting, microbrews, food, DiVine Vodka slushies and live music. Bring lawn chairs and sun umbrellas; no outside coolers, beverages or food. Free admission.

• Cassopolis: There will be a fireworks display Saturday at Diamond Lake beginning at 10:15 p.m. The rain date is Sunday with the same time and location.

• Dowagiac: Saturday at 10 p.m. there will be a fireworks display at Sister Lakes Lions Park.

• Edwardsburg: The Fourth of July Boat Parade on Eagle Lake will take place on Monday. It begins at the public access and travels clockwise around the lake.

• Michigan City, Ind.: The Drum & Bugle Corps BIG Show, featuring The Cavaliers, The Blue Stars, The Bluecoats, The Glassmen, The Pioneers, The Colts, The Legends, The Troopers and The Colt Cadets, will be held Saturday.

• New Buffalo: The Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra will perform patriotic music at 9 p.m. at the Independence Day celebration Monday at Lions Pavilion Park.

• South Bend: A fireworks display will take place at Coveleski Stadium on Sunday after the game that begins at 7:30 p.m.

• South Haven: July 3, 2011 Light Up the Lake Fireworks, dusk, lakefront, South Haven. Tune into COSY 103.7 FM for music to accompany the fireworks. There will also be a parade Monday, downtown at 11 a.m.

• St. Joseph: On Monday there will be a concert at 9 p.m. at Silver Beach, followed by fireworks. St. Joseph Today is hosting its Fourth of July Fun Parade, 10:30 a.m., downtown St. Joseph on Monday. Decorate strollers, bicycles, wagons, kids and dogs and join the parade at the corner of Elm and State streets and march the length of State Street. No registration required unless a motorized vehicle is used. Contact St. Joseph Today, 421 State St., St. Joseph, (269) 985-1111.

• Watervliet: Independence Day Weekend Celebration will be held Saturday at the Watervliet airport at dusk.